2024-03-19 13:25:50
Emmanuel Macron in Marseille, during a visit dedicated to the fight against drug trafficking, on March 19, 2024 in the Castellane district. CHRISTOPHE ENA / VIA REUTERS
The president, Emmanuel Macron, is traveling to Marseille on Tuesday March 19 for a surprise visit concerning the fight against drugs. “We will not give up anything” in front of “this terrible scourge”declared the Head of State at the start of the afternoon, assuring that he wanted “make life impossible for consumers, (…) to the families of the youngest who serve as lookouts or others and who are also victims of this trafficking”. “Support, empower, in certain cases sanction”listed Mr. Macron.
“In Marseille and other cities in France, it is an unprecedented operation that we have launched to put a stop to drug trafficking, ensure republican order, and clear the air”Emmanuel Macron wrote on X upon his arrival Tuesday morning in France’s second city.
The “XXL net space” operation is driving in Marseille “for twenty-four hours”according to the Elysée. “There was a very big operation yesterday, which will last several weeks throughout Marseille”specified the head of state in the city of Castellane, in the north of the city, where he began his trip. “The goal is to try to destroy the networks and the traffickers and for the few who make your life impossible to leave”he detailed during an exchange with residents.
The first day of operation gave rise to “more than 82 arrests and [à] around sixty people in police custody”, said Mr. Macron. In addition, 140,000 euros were seized, according to an official source. According to a source close to the matter, 4,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized per week in Marseille and the surrounding communities, for three weeks in total.
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“The idea is to have a situation that is clearly cleaned up and to have a very strong impact in the coming weeks”declared, alongside the Head of State, the new police prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, Pierre-Edouard Colliex. “My roadmap today is clear: drugs, drugs, more drugs”he announced at the beginning of March when he took office.
“What are we doing for Palestine, Mr. Macron? »
But, on Tuesday morning, Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, the Keeper of the Seals, Eric Dupond-Moretti, and the Secretary of State for the City, Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, was mainly questioned on the war in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza or even job search problems, during a crowd bath during which many middle and high school students had their correspondence books signed by him.
“Today, what are we doing for Palestine, Mr. Macron? »was outraged by a resident, Ahmed Saïd, accusing him of “pour water into the sand” with France’s humanitarian action in the Gaza Strip. Shortly after, a crying mother asked the president to “do something for the Palestinians” and not to let “these children are dying”.
“Calm down your little CRS”asked a young person, “there’s no point in sending them to us”.
49 deaths in 2023
Mr Macron’s visit to Marseille comes as several police operations have taken place recently concerning the two main gangs – DZ Mafia and Yoda – who are vying for control of drug trafficking in France’s second city.
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Thirteen young suspected members of the DZ Mafia were arrested a week ago in Marseille, Rennes and in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence as part of an investigation into attempted murder in Spain. Ten of them were indicted on Saturday, according to the Marseille prosecutor’s office. These arrests occurred just a few days after the arrest in Morocco of Félix Bingui, 33, alias “the Cat”, the alleged leader of the Yoda clan, rival of the DZ Mafia in Marseille.
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The turf war for control of deal points has bloodied Marseille like never before in 2023, with 49 people killed, including four collateral victims, and 123 injured.
Marseille magistrates warned at the beginning of March about the power of drug trafficking. “We are losing the war against traffickers in Marseille”worried Isabelle Fort, head of the department which deals with organized crime within the Marseille public prosecutor’s office, before the Senate commission of inquiry into the fight against drug trafficking in France.
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers Marseille described by magistrates as a “narcoville” prey to an “asymmetrical war between the State and traffickers”
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